FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT PACIFIC COAST

John O'Connor is the third O'Connor kid George Larsen has coached in soccer. Larsen guided John's older sisters, Kaylee and Maddie, on the club level with the Newport Beach-based Slammers. John plays for Larsen on the Corona del Mar High boys' team. When asked whether he, Kaylee or Maddie has the best strike, John says he doesn't know. "They're both in college," Larsen says to John, telling him not to worry about his answer. "You won't hear from them. " John never really answers the question, but he does thank his sisters for taking up soccer.

All game long, the Beckman High boys' basketball team more than hung around at Corona del Mar. The Patriots just didn't give themselves their best shot to stick around longer on Tuesday night. Down three points with 17.6 seconds left, Beckman opted to drive to the basket. With the clock winding down, the play near the baseline wasn't by design. Beckman Coach Brady Richards wanted to run a three-point play, to tie the game and send it into overtime. What Richards got was an ill-advised shot and Beckman missed its shot to move into a first-place tie with CdM in the Pacific Coast League.

Whitford named MVP Sage Hill School junior outside hitter Kekai Whitford has been named the Academy League MVP after the girls' volleyball program reached unprecedented heights this season. Whitford, along with first-team members, junior outside hitter Halland McKenna and junior setter Maddy Abbott, led Sage Hill (28-6, 11-1) to a share of the league title, a CIF Southern Section Division 3A title, and its first CIF State Southern California Regional Division III finals appearance.

Matt Sherburne grew up playing basketball and baseball, but his father Rick always wanted him to try water polo. Rick was certainly successful in the water. He played water polo for Sunny Hills High and UCLA in the 1970s. While in Westwood, he was part of the Bruins' 1979 national finalist team, and he earned all-NCAA Tournament honors. Matt was fine with trying out water polo. He got his feet wet, so to speak, in the seventh grade with longtime Coach Ted Bandaruk. Matt grew to love water polo.

Less than a quarter into the game, the Northwood High football team had already scored more points than Corona del Mar's first four opponents in the Pacific Coast League. The Timberwolves' junior quarterback, Brian Abel, was more than able. He engineered two touchdown drives, putting CdM into an early hole Friday night at Davidson Field. The response on defense came quickly. Northwood couldn't score again until the final minutes of the game, when CdM was well in control. The Sea Kings weren't going to miss out on their chance to make history.

Corona del Mar High sophomore golfer Amy Matsuoka is somewhat of a rarity, a consistent performer in a sport known for its up and downs. Matsuoka constantly finishes top 10 in the American Junior Golf Assn. tournaments in which she plays. In the Sea Kings' 14 matches this fall, she was medalist in half, despite missing two matches to play an AJGA tournament in Oklahoma. How does she do it? "The key is just to have a positive attitude and keep plugging through it," Matsuoka said.

IRVINE - Before the week started, Corona del Mar High girls' tennis coach Brian Ricker leveled with his team. The Sea Kings, ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division 1, had a tough trio of matches. They played at Woodbridge on Tuesday, played host to No. 5 Mira Costa on Wednesday and played at No. 2 University on Thursday. Ricker told his girls the Mira Costa match was most important, followed by Woodbridge then rival University. "Mira Costa is important for the seeding in the playoffs, and if we didn't beat Woodbridge then we're not going to the playoffs," Ricker said.

Corona del Mar libero earns share of Pacific Coast League's top boys' volleyball honor. Corona del Mar High senior libero Erik Ctvrtlik received a share of the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player award after he helped the boys' volleyball team repeat as the undefeated league champion. Ctvrtlik is joined on the first team by three CdM teammates: junior middle blocker Tommy Brooks, junior outside hitter Joey Martino and senior middle blocker Ryan Clayton. The foursome led the Sea Kings (19-11, 10-0 in league)

IRVINE — Junior outside hitter Joey Martino recorded 10 kills on Tuesday, helping the Corona del Mar High boys' volleyball team sweep Woodbridge, 25-17, 25-10, 25-20, and clinch at least a share of the Pacific Coast League title. The Sea Kings (16-9, 8-0 in league) have won 11 straight league championships and 14 of their last 15. Augie Miller had seven kills and one block for CdM. Kevin Fults finished with five kills and two blocks. The Sea Kings play host to Beckman Friday at 5:15 p.m. * BOYS' TRACK AND FIELD Mt. SAC Relays WALNUT — Newport Harbor senior Marty Taylor won the shotput with a mark of 59 feet 10 inches and placed second in the discus throw at 183-2 during the Mt. Sac Relays High School Invitational on Saturday.

Last year, the Corona del Mar High sailing team was one point away from qualifying for the High School Dinghy National Championships. This year the Sea Kings left no doubt. CdM finished third at the Pacific Coast Championships Sunday at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club in San Pedro. CdM edged Newport Harbor, which finished fourth and also qualified to compete for the Mallory Trophy May 11-12 in Chicago. CdM and Newport Harbor competed against the best teams in the Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Assn.